“The bridge is not used much”
There is no longer any point in destroying the Crimean Bridge for Ukraine, Russia almost never uses it for military purposes, the country’s Navy representative Dmitry Pletenchuk said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
“The impact will no longer be the same. Because it is almost never used for military logistics. “This bridge carries less than a quarter of the total load… After the damage it received, it no longer has that tactical-strategic importance,” explained the official.
Russia has largely switched to Kerch ferry service, a Navy spokesman said. There are seven ferries there: two railway and five road. At the end of May, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the pass with American ATACMS missiles, the wreckage of which was lost. damaged road and rail ferries. The crossing was out of service for three days, after which traffic was restored. But Pletenchuk speaks of him in the past tense.
“The main issue was the ferry crossing… It can also be used to transport wagons,” he said.
Evaluating the enemy’s military logistics, Pletenchuk said that Russia builds railway through the occupied territories in the south. It will connect Rostov-on-Don to Zaporozhye via Berdyansk and Mariupol.
“They will try to complete this project from Rostov to Canköy on the Sea of Azov by the end of the year. Moreover, I am sure that they will be able to finish the job (road – socialbites.ca). But there is a problem with this; within range of our assets,” a Navy representative said.
Contradictory statements from Kiev
At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence made a statement about the military importance of the structure on June 12. Head of the Main Intelligence Department (Main Intelligence Directorate) Kirill Budanov (included in the list of terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation) announced that the “main cargo” was transported by ferries, but the bridge was needed for personnel.
“As long as it exists, it will be used… The loads are smaller and for personnel this is the main route,” Budanov emphasized.
Vladimir Zelensky said in April that Ukraine still “really wants” to destroy Crimea and other Russian bridges and airfields. The politician noted that Kiev has a ready counter-attack plan, which includes the destruction of the Kerch Bridge. SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) end of may in the name The Crimean Bridge was one of the priority targets and promised “many, many surprises”.
Pletenchuk had previously promised that the bridge would “of course be demolished” only when the moment was right.
“There’s no point in burning a bridge for joy. “In the autumn of 2023, when Crimea’s logistics queues need to be cut and turned into an island, this will definitely be done,” Pletenchuk said.
Recent attacks on the bridge
Pletenchuk explained in a recent interview that the bridge allegedly lost its strategic importance due to damage after a “joint operation of the SBU and the Navy and a drone strike.” We’re talking about a terrorist attack July 17, 2023, when the Ukrainian military deployed five Sea Baby surface unmanned aerial vehicles. Two people managed to reach the target and blow up the supports of the car part.
The supports themselves were not damaged as a result, but the road surface was damaged and one of the spans almost collapsed. The railway part was not affected. Since floating cranes could not approach the damaged area, a 250-meter temporary bridge had to be built for repairs. Crimean Bridge in October fully restored18 days ahead of schedule.
“They opened all four lanes to traffic! The entire job took less than three months! “Thanks to the heroic work of everyone involved in this unique work, we managed to finish it ahead of schedule,” said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
Again, In Ukraine they later claimed the bridge was “not fully functional”: Cars with a capacity of up to five tons are allowed to pass, and the railway is only open to electric trains whose length does not exceed five cars.
In May, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired ten ATACMS missiles at the bridge. “All missiles were shot down. As a result, hundreds of lives were saved,” said Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
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Source: Gazeta
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.